Every DCU Movie and TV Show, Ranked

In the immortal words of Dwayne Johnson: the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change. As Skydance acquired Warner Brothers, James Gunn and Peter Safran are being replaced by former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham, marking the beginning of the final chapter in the short DC Universe launched by the duo. Several projects like Swamp Thing and The Brave and the Bold are now in limbo or facing possible cancellation.

For now, we’ll look at all the titles released under the new DC Universe. The Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle are excluded because they were technically released during the DCEU era despite being canon, while The Batman and the Joker movies exist in the Elseworlds realm. There are still titles yet to be released, like the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow and a new series The People vs Gorilla Grodd, but they will certainly rank among the top 10.

6

‘Supergirl’ (2026)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Unlike her cousin, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) is struggling to find her own place in Supergirl. Constantly partying and moving, she finally has a mission when the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) endangers Krypto’s life. With a young orphan named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) tagging along to seek revenge against Krem, Kara has to find the cure for Krypto before time runs out.

Drawing from a beloved miniseries, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film has a lot of material to explore. Milly Alcock herself is amazing and refreshing as the titular Supergirl. However, the film struggles to adapt the storyline, and the changes made for the film break the story’s nuance. The film also has a bland antagonist in Krem, despite being played by a reliable actor. The film is way too overpacked but never really gels together. We haven’t even mentioned Jason Momoa‘s Lobo or the now-notorious final battle needle drop. Reflected in its middling reviews and box office, Supergirl marks DCU’s first and perhaps the only setback.

5

‘Creature Commandos’ (2024)

Image via DC Studios

In Creature Commandos, Amanda Waller (voiced by Viola Davis) manages to find an even weirder group to carry out her mission. Now, she assembles a team of imprisoned monsters, including the Bride (Indira Varma), Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao), G.I. Robot and Weasel (both Sean Gunn). Led by General Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), the squad is sent to Pokolistan to protect Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova) from a potential assassination attempt.

Creature Commandos is an unconventional start to a cinematic universe. However, it reflects James Gunn’s sensibilities very well. The series is filled with his trademark combination of irreverent humor, violence, and great character development. Through the individual backstories, this group of misfits becomes more interesting as the series progresses. Nevertheless, the main story is often shadowed by the much more entertaining flashbacks. It is a fun series to watch for die-hard fans but never becomes a must-see show for those who are uninitiated with deeper DC lore. A second season is set to be released in 2027.

4

‘Clayface’ (2026)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Clayface follows Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a promising Hollywood actor whose life and career are destroyed after sleeping with the girlfriend of a ruthless crime boss, Markos Szabo (David Dencik). With his face horribly disfigured, Hagen seeks an experimental procedure conducted by Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) using supercharged nanites. Thanks to the nanites, his face is back to normal, but the procedure has devastating side effects.

Clayface was not part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s original plan, but it still fits the overall Gods and Monsters theme. It is also another unconventional entry in a nascent cinematic universe. However, with a strong story spearheaded by modern horror master Mike Flanagan, the film is a unique entry to the comic book genre. It is a body-horror tale, filled with shocking, horrific moments. Tom Rhys Harries is a compelling lead, and he is joined by a strong supporting cast. The film would benefit from a stronger villain, but Hagen’s journey and the film’s exploration of vanity and perfection are engaging enough. It is a shame that audiences might never see this Clayface face off against Batman.

3

‘Peacemaker Season 2’ (2025)

Image via HBO Max

Despite saving the world, Christopher Smith (John Cena), better known as Peacemaker, is still not considered a hero by his superhero peers. With the rest of his gang busy with their own problems, he stumbles upon an alternate universe through his father’s (Robert Patrick) pocket dimension. Here, he finds himself praised as a hero. But everything in this universe seemed too perfect to be true.

With a tweaked Season 1 finale scene, the second season of Peacemaker is firmly in the new DC Universe. The series and John Cena have developed the character so much that he evolved from being somewhat of a villain into one of the most compelling figures in this universe. Arguably the most versatile wrestler-turned-actor working today, Cena juggles the sincerity and the ridiculousness of the character perfectly. The alternate universe storyline brings a lot of entertainment and fun, including a cameo from the fan favorite Joel Kinnaman‘s Rick Flagg. The whole story about him and his father as well as his team is emotional and touching as well. With a well-rounded cast that brings exciting action and absurd humor, the latest (and maybe final) season of Peacemaker becomes one of the essential comic book shows to watch.

2

‘Superman’ (2025)

Image via Warner Bros.

Superman follows the Man of Steel, played by David Corenswet, who lives in a world full of metahumans. Superman finds himself facing public scrutiny after intervening in an international conflict involving warring nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) further undermines him by releasing a damning message from his Kryptonian parents and attacking him with his superpowered henchmen.

James Gunn’s Superman is an incredibly refreshing take on the world’s most famous superhero and comic book adaptations in general. Gunn brings an abundance of characters into this film but is still able to make Superman the focus. It also adds quirky creatures and technology like the pocket universe, which makes the whole film feel more like a comic book came to life. Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s (Rachel Brosnahan) relationship is electric and important to both characters. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult delivers an excellent Lex Luthor, portraying him as an intelligent but insecure individual. The film’s best quality is its infectious, hopeful message, deeply ingrained in Superman’s belief. It’s a sneakily effective film that serves as a strong foundation for this new cinematic universe.

1

‘Lanterns’ (2026)

Image via HBO

Lanterns introduces John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), a Green Lantern hopeful who is paired with the experienced and cocky Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as his mentor. They travel to the small and very peaceful town of Rushville, Nebraska to investigate a murder that Jordan believes to be linked to an alien. Greeted by the town’s Sheriff (Kelly Macdonald), Stewart and Jordan both sense that there is something more dangerous in town.

Lanterns is easily the most impressive entry in the DCU. It has a considerably longer runtime that helps both Lanterns’ character development but it also has a grounded approach that makes them shine even more. Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler deliver great performances as men with opposite personalities who constantly clash yet have deep respect for each other. There is a highlight episode where the series tells the upbringing of John Stewart, which has never been explored in the comics before. Throughout its 8-episode run, it manages to enthrall fans and win new viewers. Lanterns is not just DCU’s best production, but it is definitely one of the best superhero series ever made.

Release Date

August 16, 2026

Network

HBO

Directors

Alik Sakharov, James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Patel

Writers

Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, Tom King, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Justin Britt-Gibson, Breannah Gibson